The Pierce Faculty cross-country course in Woodland Hills, utilized by hundreds of runners for the reason that Sixties, has been closed and will probably be unavailable to host the Metropolis Part finals and different highschool meets this fall.
At a gathering final week attended by officers from the Metropolis Part and West Valley Eagles youth group, Pierce Faculty officers knowledgeable them {that a} new grass soccer discipline will probably be constructed within the space the place races have beforehand began and which was additionally used as a warm-up space for runners.
Officers additionally instructed Jack Dawson of the Eagles and Metropolis Part commissioner Vicky Lagos they might revamp the entire course. They’ve already smoothed out path areas on the hilly course and stuck fencing.
A water truck and building supplies have been seen within the space of the flat floor on Wednesday. Few folks have been made conscious a soccer discipline can be constructed on a a lot beloved space utilized by runners. The varsity has a males’s and ladies’s soccer crew. A faculty safety officer stated he was unaware of the plans, and he can be immediately affected since safety is employed weekly each time a highschool meet is held.
Dawson stated, “The course goes to be lovely. It’s, how are we going to make use of it?”
Both revisions should be executed on the soccer discipline or a brand new place to begin for races must be created.
Dawson and Lagos stated they have been knowledgeable that there can be no permits issued this yr for the course. Excessive faculties that beforehand used the course are scrambling to seek out options.
Monroe coach Leo Hernandez stated his league is investigating utilizing Woodley Park within the Sepulveda Basin as a attainable alternative. Birmingham Excessive as soon as arrange a course on its campus when Pierce Faculty was unavailable due to heavy rains and might be utilized by the Metropolis Part for the finals.
Pierce Faculty can also be getting used as a web site to soak up massive animals throughout wildfires, so creating one other course on campus this yr is unlikely contemplating the uncertainty of the climate this fall.
